[Grammar] A prepositional phrase or an adverbial phrase?

[mamen]

Dears teachers,

In the sentence "The man lives in a nice castle." is the underlined phrase a prepositional phrase or an adverbial phrase?

 

[Matthew Wai]

An adverbial prepositional phrase modifying the verb 'lives'.

Not a teacher.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Just a gentle reminder, Mamen, that the English language does NOT require an adjective to match a plural noun.

Therefore, "Dear Teacher" or "Dear Teachers."

"The tall building" or "The tall buildings."

Etc.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'The man lives a happy life in a nice castle.'
Does the prepositional phrase function as an adverb modifying 'lives' or as an adjective modifying 'life'?

Not a teacher.

 

[mamen]

Teachers,
Is it true that a prepositional phrase can function as an adjective or an adverb?
Would this mean that the underlined phrase in the sentence "The man lives in a nice castle." is an adverb?
I thought, the more proper term for the underlined phrase is "adverbial phrase."

 

[MikeNewYork]

Matthew, a case could be made for either. Because of the positioning, I would choose "adjective" modifying life".

 

[MikeNewYork]

Teachers,
Is it true that a prepositional phrase can function as an adjective or an adverb?
Would this mean that the underlined phrase in the sentence "The man lives in a nice castle." is an adverb?
I thought, the more proper term for the underlined phrase is "adverbial phrase."

You are talking about different levels of definition. The phrase is an adverbial phrase. But the function of a word or group of words in a sentence is defined as a part of speech. "Adverb" is a part of speech; adverbial phrase is not.

 

[mamen]

You are talking about different levels of definition. The phrase is an adverbial phrase. But the function of a word or group of words in a sentence is defined as a part of speech. "Adverb" is a part of speech; adverbial phrase is not.

Would this mean that the underlined phrase is an ADVERB and at the same time an ADVERBIAL PHRASE?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes. It is also a prepositional phrase. There are all kinds of definitions in language.